Advantages of No-prep Veneers in Lake Forest

Eighty percent of people aren’t happy with their smiles. If you fall into this category, you might benefit from no-prep veneers. This elective cosmetic treatment basically allows you to resurface your smile with tooth-colored restorative materials. Today, our Lake Forest cosmetic dentist Dr. James Fondriest shares some facts about no-prep veneers.

What are No-prep Veneers?

All teeth visible have been covered over without any drilling with prepless veneers. Covering over the teeth provides a more uniform and consistent symmetrical look.

For years, if you had misaligned teeth, you could correct your smile with the help of orthodontic treatment. But if you were unhappy with shape of your teeth, you were more or less out of luck. But thanks to advances in adhesive bonding technology and porcelain materials, a cosmetic dentist can now offer the beauty of traditional porcelain veneers with minimal tooth reduction. Less tooth structure removal can mean less time in the dentist’s chair and little or no anesthetics. No-prep or low-prep veneers involve applying multiple layers of porcelain with different shades and degrees of translucency to match natural teeth. These razor-thin layers of ceramic allow the natural color of the tooth to remain visible, while correcting undesired imperfections. All of this can be done with no enamel removal, which can be especially appealing to patients leery about removing enamel on healthy teeth for a cosmetic procedure.

Are No-prep Veneers for Me?

No-prep veneers are an excellent option for many patients who want to conservatively correct their smiles, but they are not ideal for everyone. The best candidates for no-prep veneers are patients who are seeking slight, but marked improvements in symmetry and alignment. Patients with receding gums, spaces between teeth, or discolored teeth would likely benefit from more traditionally-prepared laminates. It is important to note that only a small percentage of patients can achieve esthetics, cleansability, and longevity with zero tooth preparation. In most cases, at least some reduction is necessary to achieve maximum results. Ask Dr. Fondriest what would benefit you.